The inability to download apps from the Google Play Store is a common problem faced by many Android users. And although it usually gives an error code, some problems are completely random and difficult for some to treat. Therefore, here we are
going to present you with some possible solutions to fix the problem of the inability to download applications from the Google Play Store and install them on your Android phone for the same. You can download applications on the Play Store, and you can also follow the video below this article.
Steps to solve the problem of not being able to download applications from the Google Play Store
1- Check your internet connection and storage space
The first and foremost thing you need to check is if you have a stable internet connection and enough amount of storage space on your phone to install apps. If you are using Wifi, try switching to mobile data and retry downloading. Also disable your VPN, which may be the possible culprit blocking the download.
2- Force stop apps and clear cache and data
Sometimes there is an error in the operation of the Google Play Store on your phone or it has errors in the download, so the two most important steps that must be taken to return it to the default state are to stop it completely from running through the Force Stop app feature, and also clear the cache and data Clear Cache and Data
The method is open Settings > Apps & Notifications > See all apps and go to the app info page in Google Play Store.
Tap on Force Stop and check if the issue is resolved.
If not, tap Clear Cache and Data, then reopen Play Store and try downloading again.
Also, you should know that the Google Play Store also depends on other operations supported by Google Play Services and Download Manager.
So, if you are still facing the problem despite applying the first steps, you should now clear the cache and data for Google Play Services, Google Services Framework, and Download Manager in a similar way. Also, make sure that the Download Manager is in the "enabled" state, and that you have not disabled it by mistake.
3- Uninstall and reinstall Google Play Store
If you can still download apps after clearing the cache and data of Play Store and Services, it is recommended to uninstall Play Store updates and update them again.
To do so, open Settings and head to the All apps section under the Apps & Notifications menu. From the list, select Google Play Store, tap on the three dots in the top right corner, and tap Uninstall updates. Click OK to confirm when prompted.
This will revert the Play Store app to its factory-installed version, clearing any possible bugs or problems with the previous version. However, now you can update it back to the new version by downloading it as an APK file.
4- Sign out and sign back into your Google Play account
If nothing works, the last step is to remove and re-add the Google account on your device.
To remove your Google account:
- Open Settings on your Android phone.
- Click on Accounts.
- If you are using multiple accounts, select the account you want to remove and click "Remove Account" (You may be prompted to enter your phone's PIN or password)
To re-add a Google Account:
- Open Settings and head to the Accounts section.
Click on "Add Account" and select Google.
Enter your email id and password and follow the onscreen instructions to add the account.
Now, open Play Store, select Account from the sidebar dropdown, and try downloading again.
5- Apps are not being downloaded to a phone because your phone has been reformatted
If you went through a factory reset or are setting up a new device, chances are that no new apps will be downloaded at all. In this case, the Play Store will say "download pending" for everything in the queue.
Well, it is only because your Google account is in sync mode or downloading apps associated with the account. So, wait for the sync or download to complete and try again. To speed up the process, you can disable sync mode account data sync in Settings for a minute or two and enable it again. As mentioned above, make sure you are on a stable internet connection.
6. Explanation of Google Play download error codes and codes
There are other problems related to the Google Play Store, for which Google provides error codes for them. Here are the meanings and solutions of the most common Play Store error codes.
Error 101: Your phone has too many apps currently installed. Uninstall old and unused apps.
Error 194: Clear cache and data for Google Play Services and Play Store.
Error 403: You are using two different Google accounts to purchase apps on the same device. Consider using the correct account or removing the other one. Also, try to delete the proxy option in APN settings.
Error 492/498: Your phone's Dalvik cache is full. Try uninstalling unnecessary apps and wiping the cache partition by recovering your phone.
Error 911: There is a problem with your Wi-Fi connection, or you may be prompted to clear the data cache. Disconnect and reconnect to WiFi or clear the cache.
Error 919/101/923/921: Your device has not enough storage space. Free up some space to continue downloading apps. This may also be caused by incorrect APN settings.
Error 927: Download is impossible because the Play Store is being updated. Wait for a few minutes until the Google Play Store is fully upgraded. If the problem persists, proceed with clearing the data of Play Store, Play Services, and Download Manager.
Error 944: Google servers are having connection problems. Wait for the problem to be fixed.
This was a simple guide on how to fix unable to download apps on Google Play Store.
As evident, the general solution to the app download issue is to clear the cache and data of Google Play Store, Play Services, and Download Manager.
However, if the problem is not rectified, you can continue to uninstall Play Store updates or remove and re-add your Google account.